SUNBURY COLLEGE VCAL GUIDE 2018 30 Racecourse Road Sunbury 3429 Telephone: 97441066 Facsimile: 97447695 Email: sunbury.sc@edumail.vic.gov.au 2018
TABLE OF CONTENTS WELCOME TO VCAL AT SUNBURY COLLEGE 2 Sample Programs 3 Explanation of Vocational Education and Training programs (VET) 5 VET courses offered at TAFE 6 School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships 7 1
WELCOME TO VCAL The Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) is a Victorian school certificate that offers an alternate completion of secondary schooling to VCE. VCAL is offered at three certificate levels: Foundation, Intermediate and Senior. VCAL will be offered for Year 11 at the Intermediate level and for Year 12 at the Senior level. There are four curriculum strands within a VCAL certificate: 1. Literacy and Numeracy Skills Studies related to literacy (English) and numeracy (Maths) 2. Industry Specific Skills - Vocational Education and Training (VET) units of competency (See below the section on VET courses). 3. Related Skills This could be in the form of structured place Learning, a School Based Apprenticeship, Part-time work or units or modules that help prepare you for work like interview etc. 4. Personal Skills unit - Students participate in community-based projects, voluntary work and/or structured activities that will help develop your self-confidence, teamwork and other important for life and work. What must students do to receive a VCAL qualification? A student is awarded a certificate when they gain credits for 10 units that fulfil the minimum requirements for their learning program. A credit is gained for successful completion of a unit of study. At Sunbury College, a unit of study can be: o one VCAL unit o 90 hours for VET modules or units of competence and/or Further Education (FE) modules. Each unit of study must be justified against the purpose statement for one of the four VCAL curriculum strands. A student s VCAL learning program must include: at least one literacy unit* at least one numeracy unit at least one unit from the Industry Specific Skills strand (at the Intermediate and Senior level this must include a unit of study from a VET qualification) at least one unit from the Related Skills strand at least one unit from the Personal Skills strand at least six credits at the level or above, of which one must be literacy and one VCAL SELECTION CRITERIA FOR ENTRY INTO VCAL Entry to the Year 12 Senior Certificate Level is based on performance in Year 11. Students must meet the following requirements for promotion interview: Be a current Year 11 student at Sunbury College Satisfactory completion of current VCAL program and ability to continue in a VET subject Participation in VCAL activities related to Personal and Related. Minimum Habit Rating of 3.00 in Semester 2 of the current year. A demonstrated commitment to improving their Literacy and Numeracy Minimum of 80% attendance in class. Completion of MIPS online to a high standard Organisation and participation in Structured place Learning To be considered for an interview for the Sunbury College Year 11 Intermediate VCAL program students must first submit a written application and meet the following entry requirements: Be a current Year 10 student at Sunbury College Minimum Habit Rating of 3.00 in Semester 2 of the current year A demonstrated commitment to improving Habits rating in English and Maths Minimum of 80% attendance in class. Completion of MIPS online to a high standard 2
If selected to go through to the interview stage for consideration into the Sunbury College VCAL program, students must provide evidence of the following: An identified vocational pathway Keen interest in a VET program relevant to their career aspirations either through Experience at Year 10, investigation in career paths through MIPS Online, discussion with the Careers team. A demonstrated hands-on learning style A demonstrated ability to work positively with class mates and teachers in group activities A demonstrated history of working to potential Their positive contribution to the school community Positions in the VCAL program are limited, with the school decision being final. Once selected for the program an individual learning program will be created. Example of learning program that meets the requirements for the VCAL Certificate -Strand Intermediate Strand Intermediate Literacy Skills / Numeracy Skills VCAL literacy : Reading and Writing Speaking VCAL Numeracy Skills: place Maths, Business Records; arithmetical and concepts. Related Skills VCAL Related Skills units OR placement one day per week Industry Specific Skills VET certificates Personal Developm ent Skills Participation in group projects; completion of personal achievements like first aid or fitness tests. How VCAL might look at Sunbury College Year 11- Semester 1- Intermediate VCAL Period Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 1 Numeracy Personal 2 Numeracy Personal VET- External Literacy Private Study VET- External Literacy Private Study 3 Related 4 Related Literacy VET- External Numeracy Related Private Study VET- External Numeracy Related 5 Literacy Connect VET- External Personal Personal 6 Literacy Numeracy VET- External Personal Personal 7 Related 3
Year 11 Semester 2- Intermediate VCAL ( Period Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 1 Numeracy Private Study VET- External Literacy 2 Numeracy Personal 3 Personal VET- External Literacy Literacy VET- External Numeracy 4 Personal Private Study VET- External Numeracy 5 Literacy Connect VET- External Personal 6 Literacy Numeracy VET- External Personal 7 Personal Year 12 Senior VCAL (full year) Period Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 1 Numeracy Numeracy VET- External Literacy 2 Numeracy Personal VET- External Literacy 3 related 4 related Literacy VET- External Numeracy Literacy VET- External Numeracy 5 Personal Connect VET- External Personal 6 Personal related VET- External Personal 7 Literacy 4
EXPLANATION OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING [VET] COURSES VET Certificate courses provide students with specific training for work in a variety of industries and recognition of their competency to undertake work tasks. The courses are more practical in structure than traditional curriculum. The courses offered by schools range from Certificate II to III level under the Australian Qualification Framework, are nationally recognised and often delivered under the auspices (guidance) of a Registered Training Organisation e.g. TAFE. Completion of parts or all of a certificate program can contribute towards the successful completion of the VCAL. The level of contribution varies according to the hours undertaken in the program. Some can contribute to a student s Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank. Most courses require a student to undertake structured workplace learning with an employer. Students must be prepared to be flexible to meet the demands of courses. Students who would like to pursue a career interest while they are still studying at school can also apply to undertake a School Based Apprenticeship or Traineeship (SBAT). SBATs allow students to learn in a particular industry by combining school studies, training and paid employment. These are available to students from 15 years old who are enrolled in the VCAL and permanent residents of Australia. Students undertaking an SBAT will sign contracts which combine training, schooling and employment. Training can be delivered on-the-job, off-the-job or a combination of both. Off the job training is done with TAFE colleges or other approved training providers. Students are in training and employment for a minimum of 13 hours per week and spend the rest of their time at school. Students currently undertake SBATs in Automotive and Children s Services through the school. WHY CHOOSE A VET COURSE? Students elect to undertake a VET course for the following reasons: Students are able to explore work related interests without leaving school. For some students, the VET course builds on their casual work experiences. They are able to undertake a more practical style of learning that includes a structured workplace experience. Results from a VET course can contribute to a VCAL program. They are able to obtain a dual qualification a VET Certificate and a VCAL award. Many students appreciate the opportunity to make links with other training providers while still at school. THE DEMANDS OF A VET COURSE Students and parents need to take particular note of the following factors that will impact on the decision to choose a VET course as part of a year 10-12 program Courses are often restricted by limits imposed by outside providers. Classes delivered at TAFE colleges are much smaller than normal classes so places are limited. Some courses require attendance at a briefing seminar and then an interview as part of the enrolment process. Students from other schools are competing for places in these courses. Courses often attract significant costs (payment to TAFEs etc and materials costs) not covered by funding. Note that VET at TAFE courses have higher materials charges than school subject charges. These must be paid in advance and are not refundable once the course has commenced. All TAFE materials charges are due at the end of week one, term 1. Students may have to complete courses outside traditional school hours. Attendance at VET programs is crucial as courses are based on nominal hours. Students often have to give up other interests like sport, to attend TAFE. They will also be required to attend TAFE if their course day falls on a school student free day. Students must attend TAFE even during school examination periods and must sit their school exams on alternate days and times. Courses are competency based and students must demonstrate their competency across a range of criteria. Inability to demonstrate competency in one area means the certificate will not be awarded. 5
The work is generally not hard but is constant and demanding. Students are meant to develop strategies for independent learning. The focus is more on student drive and determination to attain new rather than teacher directed learning. FURTHER INFORMATION ON VET STUDIES Further information can be gained from the: Pathways Co-ordinator: J. Fitzgerald COURSES OFFERED OUTSIDE THE COLLEGE THAT VCAL STUDENTS ATTEND AT TAFE (USUALLY ON A WEDNESDAY) The College, in an effort to meet student needs, has created a subject called VET at TAFE. This subject appears on the timetable and is blocked in a manner which permits students to attend a Registered Training Organisation e.g. TAFE (generally Kangan Batman TAFE and Victorian University), mostly on a Wednesday. Courses offered include: Animal Studies, Automotive, Beauty Services, Carpentry, Community Services, Electro-technology, Engineering, Equine, Hairdressing, Plumbing and Technical Production. Students can only access TAFE courses which are taught in a single weekly lesson on a Wednesday. Students must be able to independently travel to the Registered Training Organisation. These locations include: Broadmeadows, Sunshine and the city. All courses are open to both males and females. A requirement for all TAFE/VET courses is that the student undertakes a work placement relevant to their course. Students are required to organise their own work placement but can receive help from the Careers Department for letters requesting placements etc. First year enrolment is only open to prospective Year 11 VCAL students. TAFEs often have a requirement that students need to attend a full complement of classes to be deemed competent. Students involved in college sport and the Debutante Ball often need to be aware that missing too many classes for school activities may make them ineligible to pass. Students are also subject to the discipline rules of the individual TAFE colleges. 6
SCHOOL-BASED APPRENTICESHIPS School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBATs) are a distinct pathway within Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VETiS). They are available to secondary school students over 15 years old and enrolled in the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) or the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL). A SBAT offers students the option of combining part-time employment, school and training. The program is undertaken under a training contract with an employer, has a Training Plan signed by the school and formally registered with the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) and leads to a nationally recognised qualification. A SBAT forms an integral part of the student s school learning program and study timetable and a minimum of one day of the normal school week (which may be averaged over three periods of four months duration in each year of the training contract) must be spent in employment and/or structured training as an apprentice or trainee. Schools will only endorse a Training Plan for a SBAT under these circumstances. Endorsement of the Training Plan by the school will indicate that it is undertaking responsibility to enrol the student on Victorian Assessment Software System (VASS) so that credit for the training within the VCE or VCAL can be awarded to the student. Like other VETiS offerings, the vocational training components of SBATs also contribute credit towards a senior secondary certificate. Many school based apprentices and trainees move on to a full-time contract with their employer after leaving school, while others choose to continue their education and training at a Registered Training Organisation or university. SBAT students must undertake at least 7 hours of employment and 6 hours of training per week which may be averaged over three periods of four months in each year of the program. Training should be averaged over three periods of four months duration in each year of the training contract. Students currently undertake SBATs in Automotive, Children s Services and Information Digital Media and Technology as part of their VCE program. WORK-BASED TRAINING [not a subject but another option that can count towards your VCAL] Do you have a part time job? Does your employer provide you with training that is registered with a TAFE college or industry training organisation? In some instances this training may qualify to be considered as a Part Time Traineeship through your part-time work. What does this mean? Some employers are able to claim a subsidy from the Federal Government if they provide recognised training for their employees. This subsidy can help employers to minimise wages costs. If the training requires you to enrol in a training certificate (e.g. Certificate II Retail Operations, Certificate II Hospitality Kitchen Operations) then you may be eligible to have this training credited towards your VCE. The training may qualify you for one or more VCE units. In some instances, training may qualify you for a bonus to your tertiary entrance score the ATAR at the end of year 12. How do I find out if my training is eligible to be counted as a Part Time Traineeship? Talk to your employer. Ask them for a copy of the details of your traineeship course. You will need to obtain from them: full course name; registration number for the course; name of employer and a contact name and telephone number; name of the training organisation; a list of the competencies that comprise the course and their registration number. Later on you will need to bring in a statement of results from your employer. Note that statements of results must be entered by a due date the school does not follow up for results. The College will enter this information into its VCE computer system and will run an eligibility check and inform you of the number of units you are entitled to receive credit for. Note: that the College requires all of the above information to run the eligibility check. Further Information can be found at: Overview: http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/vet/programs/newapprent.html Frequently asked questions: http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au/pages/vet/faqs.aspx 7
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